Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by Nikole

If you are like us, or any human person, you like to eat on the go. How do you keep your food cold in your camper van without constantly changing the ice in your cooler? 

You can power just about any fridge with your camper van to keep your produce cold! Not to mention, a fridge makes a great addition to your camper van kitchen.

There are different ways to power a fridge in your camper van without depleting too much power. However, you need to get the most efficient type of fridge and the most efficient way of powering that fridge. 

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Power Sources You Can Use To Power Your Camper Van Fridge

When it comes to powering your camper van fridge, you have several options. These power sources depend on what type of fridge you decide to purchase, which we will go over later in this post.

For now, here are all the power source options available for your fridge.

• Vehicle starting battery
• Dual Battery System
• Solar Panels
• Generator/ power bank
• Propane

Use a Vehicle Battery as a Power Source for a Camper Van Fridge

Did you know you can use your camper van battery to power a fridge? 

You will need to use a 12Volt fridge designed for camper vans. These 12v fridges should hook directly up to a port in your car, usually located near the front. If there is nothing, you can get a 12v adaptor. 

Keep in mind that any 12v plug that comes with your van will lose power when you turn off the van. You may need to install a separate plug so your fridge can cool your food through the night. 

Fridges need constant power to keep the temperature consistent, and food from spoiling. Because the fridge needs to turn on and off during the middle of the night, this could drain your battery and leave you unable to crank your van in the morning.

You can also hook your vehicle battery up to an inverter so you can use a regular fridge in your van; however, I don’t recommend this option as it can and will drain your battery. 

You may want to use an inverter with your van battery for backup charging purposes only, especially when powering a regular non-12v fridge. For example, when your solar panels don’t get enough sunlight to charge your batteries or your generator gets low on gas.

Pros

• Easy to install
• It’s the quickest way to power your camper van fridge

Cons

• Your van battery can be drained, leaving you stranded.
• You can’t power a fridge for more than a day (less than 24 hours)

Dual Battery System for Your Camper Van Fridge

A dual battery means you have one extra auxiliary battery in addition to your van’s original battery- located under the hood.

An auxiliary battery is a term used for the main battery’s backup. This battery is typically used for things like lights and audio systems, or in this case, a fridge. 

The reason why you need another battery is to save your van’s battery for starting your vehicle in the morning and use the auxiliary battery for powering your camper van fridge.  

How to Charge a Dual Battery System

There are two ways you can recharge your installed dual battery system. You can have a mechanic set you up to where your autostart battery charges your auxiliary battery. You will need to drive around to charge it, so if you are camping for over two days in a row, just drive the van some. 

If you don’t want to pay mechanic fees or hook up the charging system I mentioned above, you can use a camping generator or a solar panel. Solar panels seem to be the most popular option. 

Pros

• you won’t need to charge your mains battery as much
• You will have no problem turning your camper van on in the morning

Cons

• You still need to provide a charge for your auxiliary battery.

Solar Panels for Powering Your Camper Van Fridge

Solar panels are a must for those who live full-time in a camper van or those who travel for weeks at a time. 

A solar panel will charge your auxiliary or deep-cycle batteries (depending on what type of battery you have).

During the day, solar panels will charge your battery as long as there is sun. Your battery stores energy until you will need it the most.

In this case, your fridge will need to turn on and off during the day (depleting your batteries) and therefore need a constant source of energy- this also depends on the type of fridge you get. 

Pros

• You won’t need to worry about charging your backup batteries through your vehicle.
• Free source of energy after the initial cost
• No noise

Cons

• Relies solely on the weather

Camping Generator/ Power Bank

A camping generator or a power bank could be a great source for powering your camper van fridge or charging batteries. 

You can use a generator to charge your aux batteries, or you can use it as a direct source. I can tell you now, however, this will not provide the best constant energy for your fridge to run. 

The huge downside to using a generator is the gas it takes to run it. You will constantly need to fill it with gas making it somewhat unreliable and less economical. 

If you use a power bank, you will still need to charge it. If this is your only source of power, you can charge the power bank by hooking it up to your main battery while you drive. Charging your power bank should give you enough power for your 12v fridge to run at night.

Pros

• Provides the most electricity out of all the options listed
• The easiest option to set up

Cons

• Costs more in the long run. Operational costs due to gas
• Noise can be an issue, especially at some campgrounds
• It can put out an unpleasant smell

Gas for Powering Your Camper Van Fridge

Why yes, you can power your camper van fridge with propane! Again, this may not be the best option for running your fridge as you still need to refill the propane. However, it could be a great option if you are boondocking for a few days.

You can get about 2 1/2 days of running time with an RV-rated fridge off of 1 gallon of propane– that’s only if the fridge is 1500 BTUs. This time also depends on how hot it is outside and the BTU rating of your fridge.

This option is great if you want to start your fridge using propane then keep the fridge running with your batteries. When the fridge first starts, it consumes too much power, leaving your batteries drained. That’s why propane is perfect for starting a fridge in your camper van. 

Pros

• You can switch between propane and electric
• You won’t run through propane

Cons

• Requires rigorous installation process
• You Need to purchase propane when fuel runs out

Different Fridges and How to Power Them

Now you know all the ways you can power a camper van fridge. Let’s take a closer look at how to power specific camper van fridges- as there are several options on the market. 

Mini Fridge

Many believe you cannot use a mini fridge in a camper van, but you can with the right setup. 

The best way to power a regular mini fridge is with solar panels and two deep-cycle batteries in a dual (I guess you could call it triple) battery system. 

Quick tip on batteries: Auxiliary batteries are used for massive energy all at once (like a car starting), whereas deep-cycle batteries are used for constant energy use, like with a fridge.

You will need an inverter for a regular mini fridge. An inverter converts DC power (generated from solar panels or a vehicle battery) into AC power (which is used for common household appliances, like a fridge). 

I recommend installing a solar panel to charge your batteries instead of using the starter battery under your van’s hood. You can also have a backup option for charging your batteries, in case it rains for a few days. A great backup option would be a battery bank or a generator. 

I recommend letting your fridge cool in the house before you leave for your trip, then hooking it up to your battery and solar power. This process helps prevent too much power consumption and saves your batteries. 

Pros

• You Can use a full-size mini fridge that has a freezer.

Cons

• It consumes quite a bit of power
• Solar panel and battery setup are required

12 Volt Fridges

12V camper van fridges are perfect for those looking for an easy food storage solution. You don’t need a confusing solar setup to run a 12v fridge in your van- however, you can still use solar for charging the batteries if need be.

How this works depends on the type of camper van fridge you are powering. A 12v fridge can hook directly up to your auxiliary battery (remember the dual battery system I mentioned above) and should be able to run all night. 

You will have to install a control panel for both of the batteries to hook up to; that way, if the auxiliary battery dies, your 12v fridge will still get some juice from your mains. Most 12v fridges will come with an automatic shut-off when the voltage from the battery gets too low- so you may not have to worry about it draining both batteries. 

Some people have gotten away with powering their 12v van fridge during the day and leaving it completely off during the night- that’s only if your fridge is insulated well enough. You may have to set your fridge 10 degrees below freezing before you turn it off for the night. 

Pros

• Doesn’t use much power
• It can be shut off during the night and still hold the cold

Cons

• Costly camper van fridge option

Absorption Refridgerator

Absorption refrigerators are unique in that you can use propane to power them. You can also set them up to where you can switch between using electricity or propane. 

In simple terms, this is how an absorption fridge works. 

• The refrigerant boils at a low temperature and draws heat from its surroundings as a result of low pressure.
• A unique salt solution absorbs the refrigerant, which becomes gaseous. 
• The refrigerant heats and the gas evaporates. The heat exchanger allows the hot gas to flow through while losing heat to the ambient air outside. The gas condenses into a liquid due to heat loss, and the cycle repeats.

These types of fridges come with 12v options. The Techomey Semi Truck Refrigerator comes with the option to switch back and forth between A/C 110v and DC12V. 

Pros

• You can use several energy sources to power these camper van fridges.
• If you run out of juice in your van battery, you can use shore power at campsites.

Cons

• Somewhat expensive
• Takes a while to originally cool down
• High altitude may affect its efficiency
• If using propane options, you must keep the fridge level working properly

What is The Best Way to Power a Camper Van Fridge?

The best way to power a camper van fridge depends on what type of fridge you get. The best way to power an absorption fridge is by connecting it to propane and a power source; that way you can use it for several days by switching between power sources.

Do you need a 12 Volt fridge in a camper van?

You do not need a 12-volt fridge for your camper van. A regular mini fridge you would find in a teen’s room, or dorm room will work just fine. 

You may need to purchase and install a battery and solar power system to run it full-time, but it is possible. 

In conclusion

You are never without a power option for your camper van fridge. There is always a way to power a fridge on the go, even if you camp in a small camper van.